There are three main considerations for most gastronomes when it comes to assessing the quality of a restaurant: the food, the service, and the interior design. Don’t underestimate the last point—interior design is able to not just complete the dining experience; it may even make or break it.

Take for example Swedish celebrity chef Björn Frantzén’s first overseas outpost of Brasserie Astoria, which is designed by the Stockholm-based Joyn Studio. Reviving the high‑energy spirit of the great dining halls is the premise behind the look of the establishment housed within Victoria Concert Hall. The restaurant is a blend of the historic venue’s old‑world charm and neoclassical elements, such as the Corinthian columns, double‑height ceiling and marbled floors, and modern touches. A sense of grandeur permeates the restaurant, which is swathed in warm wood tones and punctuated with brass details. The fun elements are not forgotten, taking the form of contemporary artworks such as Bearbrick and monkey figurines on display. Adding drama to the space, an installation of golden leaves is suspended from the ceiling, casting enchanting shadows on the main dining room and bar—a unique feature exclusive to the Singapore outpost, contributing to the overall vibe and energy. 

There is also the contemporary restaurant Meta, which has always been in a state of metamorphosis since it opened in 2015. At its new home on Mohamed Sultan Road, chef‑owner Sun Kim worked with Singapore-based design group, Uncommon Studio, to showcase his cuisine’s evolution with a modern space injected with Korean influences. Clean and sinuous lines converge in the welcoming restaurant, enveloped in shades of brown and bronze. Other elements within the space are also curated to reflect Kim’s South Korean heritage, from the geometry of the reception counter patterned after the onggi, a traditional Korean pottery used to ferment sauces, to the sliding panel between the dining room and the reception area inspired by the hanji paper‑lined screens of a hanok house. 

From rustic visions of Italian farmhouses to Parisian inspirations reminiscent of Haussman penthouses, there’s something here in Singapore for every aesthete on an epicurean adventure. 

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The Peninsula Hotels certainly have an eye for real estate. Whether it's the flagship "Grand Dame" of Hong Kong on the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront, the ultimate Beverly Hills digs at the intersection of Wilshire and South Santa Monica Boulevards, or three beautifully restored heritage buildings along the Bosphorus in Istanbul. 

Now, The Peninsula is parking its fleet of Rolls-Royces at its posh new London address situated alongside Hyde Park Corner and Wellington Arch. Calling London the "crown jewel", chairman of The Peninsula Hotels Sir Michael Kadoorie's long-sighted vision for The Peninsula London ultimately led to a 35-year search for the perfect hotel site.

After all, he's not one to settle for anything but the gold standard—The Peninsula London is only the brand’s 12th hotel in its 157-year-old history.

The Peninsula London was designed by London-based Archer Humphryes architects, while its interiors are the work of the eccentric leather-clad New York-based designer Peter Marino. There are a total of 190 guest rooms and suites which, starting at a generous 550 square feet, are some of the most spacious in the city. The most opulent is the sprawling 14,000 square-foot Peninsula Suite on the sixth floor, which includes a private terrace, a cinema, gym, formal dining room and a living room with a fireplace and baby grand piano.

Despite the nearly four-decade wait, The Peninsula London is still taking things slowly with a phased rollout to ensure the hotel group's standards are met at every turn. This of course means there's still plenty to look forward to—like its rooftop restaurant Brooklands, headed by Michelin-starred chef Claude Bosi of Bibendum fame, which will open in early October.

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In the weeks leading up to the Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as Mooncake Festival, you might be awash in hefty orbs of lotus or bean paste, on the gifting and receiving end. Whether you’re on team traditional baked or team frozen snowskin, there’s an alcoholic pairing you can enjoy alongside your decadent mooncakes.

In the past couple of years, cocktail mooncakes have been steadily trending, a step above the spirit-infused ones first made popular by Raffles Hotel Singapore with their champagne truffle snowskin, introduced in 1994. 

This year, award-winning hotel bars like Manhattan at Conrad Orchard Singapore, and Origin Bar at Shangri-La Singapore are offering some remarkable creations, including a Roku Gin cocktail creation by the former called Purple Moon, and a Negroni-infused one by the latter. Both come bundled with a bottle of the cocktail they are based on.

The most complementary pairings are often quite straightforward. Traditional baked mooncakes are best treated as a dessert, most fittingly paired with a variety of off-dry, late harvest, botrytised and fruity sweet wines that will complement the sweetness and weight of the cakes. A semi-dry chenin blanc from Loire, or even a light, effervescent moscato d’Asti with ample acidity can help lighten the sensation of sugar on the palate and wash down the mooncake most satisfactorily. 

Sometimes, wine can also overpower those delicate mooncakes. For a few years, Penfolds worked with Janice Wong on wine-infused mooncakes. A memorable creation in 2022 was the Penfolds Bin 8 Shiraz Cabernet infused within a white chocolate shell with lotus paste and cream cheese. As you can imagine, the delicate snowskin was completely overwhelmed by the full-bodied young shiraz.

Never one to miss the opportunity, whisky brands like The Macallan and Glenfiddich have also infused their spirits into mooncakes, which are generally a very good match. Unlike the more tropical notes of rum or bourbon, single malt with dry, silky, and tea-like layers are a fine match for rich, heavy mooncakes. But when in doubt—there’s always a hot, soothing cup of tea to rely on.

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The theatre scene in Singapore is about to get a lot livelier, with musical performances returning to the local stage. Get dressed up to the nines and head to the theatre for a night of humming and dancing along to familiar show tunes—a guaranteed fun weekend event.

For one, Mamma Mia! returns to local shores this October. It needs no introduction, the quintessentially Greek holiday number is well-known across all generations as the musical jukebox of timeless songs by Swedish supergroup, Abba. A musical spin-off based on the two beloved movies of the same name, Mamma Mia! takes to the theatrical stage singing the tale of a mother-daughter duo.

Multi-award winning musical Matilda is finally making an exclusive stop in Singapore in March 2024, bringing the imagination and wit of Roald Dahl’s famous children’s classic. Fan anticipation is at an all time high with tickets already available online.

Last but certainly not least, coming-of-age musical & Juliet is a fresh spin on William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, that doesn’t end in tragedy and death. Expect to sing along to some of pop culture’s greatest hits like Teenage Dream and Since You’ve Been Gone in this contemporary musical.

With their non-stop groovy numbers, iconic character lines, and glamorous sets that are sure to dazzle—what’s not to love about musicals?

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